It's really quite simple. I was amazed at how many people thought that it wasn't simple and were confused for days after Shockley explained it. Here's how simple it is:
If p then q.
That's it. That's the whole thing. If p is true, then q has to be true. If p is false, then all bets are off and q could go either way.
Don't try to rationalize it by using words. Words have no place in logic. It's just a function.
You were right, it isn't always true. Here's a truth table:
See, it's true whenever p isn't, and it's true whenever both p and q are true. It's false, however, when p is true but q isn't, because that means that clearly p doesn't imply q (if p can be true without q).
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Re: Oh, shut up, Data
Date: 2003-08-28 03:34 am (UTC)Here's how simple it is:
If p then q.
That's it. That's the whole thing. If p is true, then q has to be true. If p is false, then all bets are off and q could go either way.
Don't try to rationalize it by using words. Words have no place in logic. It's just a function.
You were right, it isn't always true. Here's a truth table:
See, it's true whenever p isn't, and it's true whenever both p and q are true. It's false, however, when p is true but q isn't, because that means that clearly p doesn't imply q (if p can be true without q).